Friday, April 17, 2015

Easy Gin Cocktail Recipes!

I guess I was having a moment this week, because I could not, for the life of me, decide what I wanted to share on the ol' food blog (as I like to call it). So, what I came up with was not one, not two, but three different easy gin cocktails, worthy of a spring fling. I know, I've been on a bit of a gin kick lately, and have even gone as far as to call it my BFF, I've also placed a lot of faith in the phrase "Gin and bear it", which is pretty much the healthiest mantra I have (OR NOT!). Don't worry, I'm not much of a drinker, but I do enjoy a well deserved cocktail now and again.

These are three of my go-to cocktail recipes. If my love for gin is turning you off, remember that gin is pretty much just vodka infused with botanicals (in layman's terms, gin lovers don't kill me!), so you can swap out vodka for the gin, and have it your way.

The ingredient list is fairly simple as well as the recipes. I'll list everything out under each specific recipe. I hope you give gin a shot, I swear it doesn't all taste like pin needles (but I like the gin that does!).

Each drink starts with the same base, a glass filled with ice, an ounce and a half of gin and half a lime squeezed in. I made crushed ice for these drinks, it's not a necessary step, but is delightful!

For the gin, I tried something new- Union Gin. Union is made in the small town of Forest Grove, and that's where I picked it up. It wasn't priced too bad, and I was not disappointed.

Gin Mule

Glass filled with ice (if you have a copper mug, this is the time to use it!)

1.5 oz Gin

At least half a lime

Fill the rest of the glass with Ginger Beer (Try Cock and Bull, is amaze!)

Garnish with lime

*Straw

This drink was made for me by my brother when I visited him last month, I have been enjoying it ever since, and it takes me straight to Boise (where he lives). His wife, my sister-in-law is pregnant (YAY!) so she did not join us in the drinking, but we did spend a few very sunny afternoons in their backyard sipping on cool beverages.

This drink is made with ginger beer, it's kind of like ginger ale, and doesn't have alcohol in it, but is much stronger. The ginger has a warm spice taste to it, which is unexpected, but quite delicious. The lime and bubbles bring the drink back from spicy to refreshing. If you have some mint on hand, you can muddle some into this drink, but that is not necessary.

*Note: Drink this cocktail with a straw or the ginger beer may make your lips swell (a little, and burn a little).

Fancy Gin + Tonic

Glass filled with ice

1.5 oz Gin

At least half a lime

1 oz elderflower liqueur

Fill the rest of the glass with tonic water- want it extra fancy? Pick up a bottle of special tonic water that they sell at liquor stores and specialty markets.

Garnish with lime or cucumber

This is my go to gin + tonic these days. I don't know if I can ever go back to an un-fancy version. The liqueur takes this drink from savory to sweet. So sweet that your face puckers a little, but in a good way.

Gin + Juice Fizz

Glass filled with ice

1.5 oz Gin

At least half a lime

2 oz juice (I used guava- yum!)

Fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale

Garnish with lime

It's gin + juice for the win here, this is the tamest drink of the 3, so if you are weary about gin, maybe start here with Snoop Doggs old staple, although I kind of doubt Snoop had his with Guava, but I could be wrong.

As always, enjoy these drink responsibly, and with a friend, especially if you have just mixed three drinks and now they need to be drank. Or you can have all three yourself and take a nap. Either way- have a happy friday!

PS: Check out my husband's wildman beard! I love it and won't let him cut it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what marriage is alllllll about.